Oil-burning water heater



June .4, 1930. w. c. ELZE 1,767,

OIL BURNING WATER HEATER Filed Feb. 20, 1929 ZSheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Vl/AL TER 6. [L25 BY 5 Z Z ATTORNEY June 24, 1930. w. c. ELZE ,7 7

' OIL BURNING WATER HEATER Filed Feb. '20, 1929 2 Sheets-Shem 2 'INVENTOR MLTER CELZE ATroRNEY Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED- STATES PATENT oFiuc-E I WALTER C. ELZE, OF FOREST HILLS, NEEV YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 HAUCK MA-NUFAO'I'UR ING COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW

YORK, .A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK Y OIL-BURNING WATER HEATER I Application filed February 20, 15329. Serial No. 341,317.

The invention relates to water heaters of the oil-burning type, more particularly to burners wherein a continuous supply of heated water may be obtained from a suitable source of cool water connected thereto The invention has for its object the provision of apparatus of this character which is preferably portable and whereby water may rapidly be heated to the desired temperature and 'a continuous supply. of the heated water maintained thereafter. Another object of the invention contemplates a heater embodying a construction which provides for a more eflicient transfer of heat-to the water passing therethrough. A further object of the invention resides in the construe tion 'of water heater apparatus which embodies a heating coil surrounded by a metal shell and wherein the relation of parts is such thatthe said shell is protected by said coil against burning out. V

In carrying out the invention, a water coil is mounted within a vertically disposed metal shell which is open at the top and bot-. tom, with a hood fitted to the top of the said-shell. A'burner member, moreover, is

associated with the shell to direct a flame into the lower portion of the'coil, said coil having a number of its lowermost convolutions' of equal diameter, preferably spaced closely together and located in close proximity to the inner wall or the shell. The remaining convolutions are'of progressively lesser diameter to provide ,a combustion chamber exteriorly of said coil and above the lower portion of the said shell. I

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation heating, apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 22, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows. I Fig. 3 'is an enlarged vertical section through the heating apparatus with burner and windshield removed.

Referring to the drawings,"10, designates a of the water suitably supported shell or casing which,

for example, may be supported by shelf members '11 extending outwardly from. a trlpod support composed of angle pieces 12- and serving. to raise the shell to permit of. the entrance thereto of air for combustion. Within this shell and supported also by said tripod, in manner hereinafter described, is a heating coll composed-of a helix of continu ous pipe having thesuccessive convolutions 13 WhlCh, except preferably for a number of the lowermost convolutions which are cylindrical and substantially in contact, are progressively of lesserdiameter and spaced a slight distance apart, for example, a distance not exceeding approximately onehalf the diameter of the pipe. i

As a'convenient means ofsupporting the same on the tripod'members 12, as well as to brace the entire coil and prevent sagging of any portion or section thereof, use is made of bars 14 which are located upon the inside ofthe coil and are. bolted by means. of the bolts 15 and nuts 16 to the said angle irons composing the tripod. The bolts 15 pass at various points along the length of the coil between two successive convolutions and thereby serve adequately'to support the section or a number of sections of the coil. while at the same time rigidly securing the coil asa whole to its tripod support. I

The lnlet pipe of the coil extends beneath the lower and reinforced edge of the shell outwardly beyond the same and is provided with a controlling valve 17 and suitable coupllng member 18 for connection to a supply of cool water, while at its upper end the pipe passes outwardly over the top of the shell and is provided with a suitable coupling men1ber19 externally of the said shell for deliveryv connection.

Over thetop of the shell,-moreover, it is preferred to provide a hood or cover member. 20 which is displaced from the upper edge of said shell sufficiently to permit the outlet pipeportion to pass theret'beween, and to afforda suitable vent for the spent heating I gases. This hood may be removably sup ported by the shell as by means of the bracktherefrom and keep foreign matter and the like from entering the interior of the casing, as well as to reduce the fire-hazard where the heater apparatus is utilized inside of buildings. In this connection, the water heater serves a double purpose in that heat not absorbed by the water itself may be utilized for temporarily heating the surrounding atmosphere. Due to the conical shape of said hood, moreover, a large portion of the heat will be reflected back into the shell to assist in heating water; and where less than the rated volume of water is run through the coil, the said hood may be removed entirely to avoid overheating the water.

A heating element or burner 25, suitable for burning oil or other liquid fuel, is arranged to be removably introduced beneath the shell 10, the same having a spreader 26 or like device for dividing and spreading the flame issuing from the burner which flame is directed into the interior of the coil portion of the heating apparatus. A fuel connection 27 is made to the burner from a tank 28 containing the desired fuel supply.

As hereinbefore noted, the arrangement of the coilwith reference to the surrounding shell is such that a flame directed into the former will tend to be confined thereby and the heat therefrom be more or less reflected downwardly toward the entering portion of the cool water so that there is a maximum heating effect at this point, which results in rapid heating of a maximum volume of water. The more or less closed construction of the coil itself tends to retain the heat within said coil, although toward the upper portion the flame and hot gases will spread to some degree through the spaces between the various convolutions to form in the upper regions of the surrounding space a heating chamber of some value and in which the outer coil surfaces are exposed. The upper portion of the coil which is thus arranged to be tapered away from the upper portion of the shell wall will thus afford a substantial surrounding chamber in whicha fairly large volume of heated gases withflame may prevail, while at the lowermost portion, where the flame is most intense, it is desirable to keep the same away from the shell itself, so far as possible. lhis is accomplished by conforming and locating a number of the lowermost convolutions rather closely to the inner surface of the shell and substantially closing the said convolutions so that there is little tendency of the flame to enter the space between the shell and coil, the latter serving also to keep this lower portion of the shell cool due to the low temperature of the entering water.

To this end, the convolutions may, furthermore, be formed at its lowermost portion preferably substantially cylindrical for a number of convolutions; or, the entire helix may be conical. The cross-sectional area of the coil space thus gradually reduces as the flame progresses through the same, the inner surfaces of said convolutions thus protruding into the path of the flame and gases serve more or less as baffles to check their progress therethrough until, when finally emerging from the reduced outlet end, the same are substantially spent and at the lowest temperature, while the water is at its highest temperature.

In order to prevent excessive air being drawn into the heating apparatus as well as to provide against disturbing drafts for the flame of the burner element, a windshield in the nature of a semi-circular sheet-metal strip 29 may be fitted about the lower open portion of the tripod support, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. Moreover, by removing the windshield, volumes of water less than the rated volume may be satisfactorily heated.

I claim:

1. An oil-burning water heater, comprising a vertically disposed metal shell open at the top and bottom, a frame to sustain the same in elevated position to allow access of air through the bottom opening, a hood or cover fitted to the top of the shell, and a water coil or helix of pipe attached to the frame and mounted within the said shell with inlet entering said shell through the bottom and outlet passing through the space between the hood and top of shell, a number of the lowermost convolutions of the helix being of equal diameter, spaced closely together and in close proximity to the inner wall of the shell, while the remaining convolutions are of progressively lesser. diameter to provide a combustion chamber exteriorly of said coil and above the lower portion of the shell, and a burner member associated therewith to direct a flame into the lower portion of said coil.

2. An oil-burning water heater, comprising a vertically disposed cylindrical metal shell open at the top and bottom, a frame to sustain the same in elevated position to allow access of air through the bottom opening, a conical hood or cover removably fitted lutions of the helix being of equal diameter, spaced closely together and in close proximity to the inner wall of the shell, while the remaining convolutions are of progressively lesser diameter to provide a combustion chamber exteriorly of said coil and above the lower portion of the shell, the respective convolutions of lesser diameter being spaced apart a distance not exceeding approximately one-half the diameter of the pipe forming the helix, and a burner member associated therewith to direct a flame into the lower portion of said coil.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WALTER C. ELZE. 

